From:
-Anonymous-
Date posted:
1/25/2008
Years at this apartment:
2007
-
2007
1 response 1 photo
If anyone REALLY wants to know about all the POSITIVE THINGS going on at Mt. Prospect Tower (#380) and Abbington Tower (#402), check out the Tenant Association website, which is www.380402tenants.org.
I saw how everything was getting upgraded in my apartment when I looked at it (new kitchen appliances, countertop, cabinets, new carpeting and painting throughout), so I thought it would be OK to move from a suburban part of New Jersey into Newark. I have an awesome floor plan, and pay only $975 for a "luxury-size one bedroom" of about 1000 square feet, including a balcony, a 20-foot long master bedroom, and jumbo-sized living room, and a seperate dining room. There's a good mix of people here, nobody is in the majority and all groups well represented, so nobody should feel unwelcomed here. Most residents are professional people or elderly residents, it's not a ghetto scene. But most good tenants decided to move here because there was security in the lobbies. My floor is super-quiet, you can hear a pin drop 24/7. There no yelling, no blasting of music, and no ghetto scene.
From 8/1/07 til late January, 2008, 29 units underwent a joint rent strike, the largest in NJ since the 1970's. The reason: Management removed security guards from each lobby of the 15 story buildings, just to CUT EXPENSES. Fine, we're cutting your REVENUE, you'll see who wins. It went into litigation, and the Rutgers University Community Law Clinic took on the case pro bono. The tenants won most of what they wanted. There is also pending legislation in the City of Newark to strengthen the security guard ordinance, and after this is passed, the security guard matter will be fully resolved.
Despite the issues that are being addressed, these buildings are still among the best high rise buildings in Newark. And the rents are half of what comparable-sized units go for in Bergen and Hudson Counties, simply because it is in "Newark". Our neighborhood (Forest Hill) is the best in the city, and a federally recognized historic district starts literally behind our buildings.
Management really took a bloody nose from this rent strike. Massive code violations have been uncovered by city and state inspectors, and everything is getting fixed. They've spent HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on fines, repairs, and legal costs. They are getting their butts kicked.
All elevators have been completely replaced, mostly solving that problem, which is unrelated to the rent strike. The boilers have also been replaced, and the new boilers are stronger. They caused some pipe bursts, but we think most of the weak pipes have already burst.
Management has shaped up their act, and I am hopeful that future reviews on this website will be positive.
Because so much change is going on, people should look at this review and more recent ones (((( and check out the www.380402tenants.org website))). Older reviews may reflect issues that were resolved.
We strikers are the best tenants in the buildings, and we really do want both buildings to succeed and be desirable places to live. We are watching this place like hawks. There's not going to be situation in which law-abiding citizens look over their shoulders and worry that law-breakers are talking about them. Instead, law-breakers are looking over their shoulders and they worry that law-abiding citizens are talking about them. Some people don't like this. Too bad, move out. It's good to have an active Tenants Association, and that means these buildings can only get better.
If you are someone that takes the time to research our building online, then you are somebody we want here as our neighbor. We don't want our best potential neighbors to be deterred.
Recommended: YES
Overall Rating
Parking:
Maintenance:
Construction:
Noise:
Grounds:
Safety:
Office Staff:
I'm the author!
Lived here?
User Responses
From:
Anonymous
Date:
12/30/2007
I dont know where to begin but I will start with the issues that have not been addressed. The only maintenance staff in there is "Superman". There are no garbage chutes and the garbage rooms are dirty whether there is garbage in there or not. Superman takes out the garbage everyday in both buildings. And thats not all, when management decided to perform an illegal act on one hot summer day to take everyone air conditioners out their apartments, Superman took them out and guess who put it all back in, that's right Superman. Everyone knows this and are dependent on him just like management. He cleans vacuums, sweeps, I mean this is just 1 person I am talking about who does it all. Something is wrong with this picture. The heat comes on and off on cold nights and the same for the summer with the air conditioners. What about parking? New tenants more than likely will not get a parking spot and will be subjected to monthly parking tickets and towing expenses because newark police don't care about the residents and do this on an everyday basis. Parking near Fine Fare is not a fun place to park at night because it is a fight to park near the building. Also, the morning security guard spends more time in the rental office near her home girl Leslie(building management) than at the booth outside. Who wants to discuss private tenant issues and the security guard is sitting in the chair right next to you like she doesn't have a job. People who do pay their rent to the office might as well every month schedule an hour appointment because they do not care about the tenants. The apartments are OK but they are not the best. There are a better apartments in Newark for the same price and cheaper. I can give a list of names because I live in a one bedroom larger than 1000 square feet and the rent is the same. I have a slight discount on my rent because I am a full time student. I wonder if this building offers that, I think NOT. No one who is looking for an apartment in Newark should have to join a rent strike and have all these problems already bombarded on them. Its not worth the time or the money to dive into problems when your hard working money can go into an apartment problem free. Also any current or prospective tenants, please own property and invest in a house. That should be anyone long term goal because all that energy and dollars into an apartment should be invested into owning your own property in the long run. I almost like most of the tenants thought I lived in the best building in Newark and became the most deadly word COMPLACENT with the conditions until I moved into a better building and laugh and feel bad for the people who are still living in that mess.
Disclaimer: No attempt has been made to verify or assure the accuracy of the claims made by the author of this opinion or responses. You must judge the truthfulness of any review and accept responsibility for your use of this information.
I'm the author!
Free estimates on moving trucks
Free quotes on movers
